Wisconsin junior defenseman Jake Gardiner’s NHL rights were traded today from the Anaheim Ducks to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Gardiner was sent to Toronto in a three-player deal between the two teams.
Gardiner, selected 17th overall by Anaheim in the 2008 draft, was dealt along with Joffrey Lupul and a 2013 conditional fourth-round draft pick for defenseman Francois Beauchemin.
Gardiner is the third Badger defenseman since 2004 to be traded while still at Wisconsin. Tom Gilbert was traded from Colorado to Edmonton in 2004 for Tommy Salo and a 2005 sixth round draft pick and Ryan McDonagh was traded in 2008 from Montreal to the New York Rangers in a six-player deal that included Scott Gomez.
